Getting Started with Formulas Notes

Basics
basic math formulas
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Introduction to Functions
can use a range
        =SUM(D3:D6)
    
to use AutoSum to total a column's values
can also use ALT+Equals
can use multiple args with SUM function
    =SUM(D38:D41,H:H)
    
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AVERAGE
can use AutoSum to calculate average
can also calculate average using
    =AVERAGE(G3:G6)
    
calculate median value using
    =MEDIAN(G3:G6)
    
function gives value which appears most often in the data
    =MODE(G3:G6)
    
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MIN & MAX
can use AutoSum or formulas
    =MIN(D3:D6)

    =MAX(D3:D6)
    
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Date & Time
get the current date using
    =TODAY()
    
add and subtract dates
    =D7+D6

    =D7-D6
    
get current time using
    =NOW()
    
add hours between times
1 2
A Status Time
B Time In 8 AM
C Lunch Out 12 PM
D Lunch In 1 PM
E Time Out 5 PM
F Total Hours

=((out time - in time) - (lunch in - lunch out)) * 24
        =((E2-B2)-(D2-C2))*24
    
the 24 converts fractional portion of the day into hours
need to format the cell as a number using
        Home > Format > Cells (CTRL+1) > Number & Number > 2 decimals
    
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Joining Text and Numbers
use '&' to join last name and first name cell values into a third cell
    =A1&", "&A2
    
to get full anme
    =A1&" "&A2
    
text and date
    C28&" "&TEXT(D28,"MM/DD/YYYY")
    
text and time
    C29&" "&TEXT(D29,"HH:MM AM/PM")
    
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IF Statements
    =IF(C9="Apple",True,FALSE)
    
    =IF(C12<100,"Less than one hundred","Greater than or equal to one hundred")
    
SalesTax is a one cell named range
    =IF(E33="Yes","F31*SalesTax,0)
    
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VLOOKUP
    =VLOOKUP(<<what to look for>,<where to look>,<how many columns to the right>,<exact or approximate match>)

    =VLOOKUP(A1,B:C,2,FALSE)
    
VLOOKUP returns #N/A on error
to hide error if first arg is blank
    =IF(C43="","",VLOOKUP(C43,C37:D41,2,FALSE)
    
hide error if first arg might not exist
    IFERROR(VLOOKUP(C43,C37:D41,2,FALSE),"")
    
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Conditional Functions
if the code below the function looks for the value of C17 in the range C3:C14
if the value matches the corresponding value in column is is added to the sum
    =SUMIF(<range to sum>,<value to search for>,<for each match found what range to find the value to add to the sum >)

    =SUMIF(C3:C14,C17,D3:D4)
    
SUMIF with a value arg
    =SUMIF(D118:D122,">50")
    
the code below searches two different ranges in order usng different criteria for each range
    =SUMIFS(<range to sum>,<first range to look for matches>,<criteria for first match>,<second range to look for matches>,<criteria for second match>)
    
COUNTIF and COUNTIFS functions only take a range and criteria
count is incremented when a cell in the range matches the criteria
similar rpototypes to SUMIF and SUMIFS
    =COUNTIF(<range to search>,<value to search for>)

    =COUNTIFS(<first range to look for matches>,<criteria for first match>,<second range to look for matches>,<criteria for second match>)
    
AVERAGEIF and AVERAGEIFS
    =AVERAGEIF(<range to search>,<value to search for>,<for each match found what range to find the value to be added for averaging>)

    =AVERAGEIFS(<range to search>,<first range to look for matches>,<criteria for first match>,<second range to look for matches>,<criteria for second match>)
    
MAXIFS
    =MAXIFS(<range to search>,<first range to look for matches>,<criteria for first match>,<second range to look for matches>,<criteria for second match>)
    
MINIFS
    =MINIFS(<range to search>,<first range to look for matches>,<criteria for first match>,<second range to look for matches>,<criteria for second match>)
    
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Function Wizard
function wizard is opened by clicking the Insert FUnction button on the Formulas tab
selecting a cell with a formula and clicking on the buton will bring up a dialog which explains the function and its arguments
otherwise a dialog will appear which will let you select a function and then guides the process of adding args
    
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Formula Errors
to determine what is causing a formula error Formulas > ErrorChecking
    
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